MV On Track 2018

50 ON TRACK MAGAZINE LADBROKES MANIKATO STAKES CONTENDERS TRAINER: Michael, Wayne & John Hawkes CAREER: 32: 13-7-4 PRIZEMONEY: $8,821,935 CHAUTAUQUA IN HER TIME REDZEL HEY DOC MALAGUERRA VIDDORA TRAINER: Benjamin Smith CAREER: 20: 8-3-2 PRIZEMONEY: $2,135,725 TRAINER: Peter & Paul Snowden CAREER: 26: 13-6-1 PRIZEMONEY: $8,810,750 TRAINER: Tony McEvoy CAREER: 20: 8-1-2 PRIZEMONEY: $1,778,900 TRAINER: Peter Gelagotis CAREER: 29: 12-3-1 PRIZEMONEY: $1,709,600 TRAINER: Lloyd Kennewell CAREER: 26: 8-7-1 PRIZEMONEY: $2,096,180 Never write off a champion! It would be one of racing’s great fairytales to see ‘The Grey Flash’ back to his brilliant best this spring. A stunning winner of the 2015 Manikato Stakes and controversially scratched at the barriers last year, can racing’s most neve-racking watch rise above the critics and reclaim his crown? Chasing her second Group 1 win, In Her Time is out to chase revenge after the verdict didn’t go her way in The Valley’s steward’s room last year. This bonny mare will be giving her all and make her presence felt as one of Australia’s premier sprinters. Forever renowned for his deeds as last years inaugural winner in The Everest, there is no doubting this dual Group 1 winners sprinting talent. With his spot secured in The Everest again in 2018, the Ladbrokes Manikato Stakes is ideally positioned 13 days after for a shot at Australia’s richest race under lights. Not since Spark of Life in 2005 has a winner of the Manikato Stakes gone back-to-back and Hey Doc will be out to do just that and extend his undefeated run to four wins from as many starts at The Valley. An upset winner last year, McEvoy’s charge is now a dual Group 1 winner and won’t be getting under punters guard. Holding the equal 1200 metre track record with Miss Andretti, there is no horse that deserves there place more than the mighty Malaguerra from Moe. The 2017 Australia Stakes winner and Manikato Stakes placegetter seems to grow a leg when he gets to The Valley and with his sizzling turn of foot, can he claim The Valley’s top sprinting honours? Adelaide’s sprinting queen now calls Melbourne home and new Victorian trainer Lloyd Kennewell will be keen to make his mark this spring. Two runner- up finishes at The Valley is as close as Viddora has come to victory in her new home state including an agonisingly close defeat in the Group 1 Moir Stakes. Can she go one better?